Ajabdeh and Rukaiya got out of the car sent to their office by the Sisodiyas to bring them over to their family home, in one of the posh areas in the city. As the car entered the portico two well-dressed guards opened the doors on either side of the car to let them out. Rukaiya exchanged an impressed glance at Ajabdeh who smiled faintly. Three steps up, to the huge doorway, stood a woman who looked well dressed, her sari neatly pleated and hair tied back. She had a name pin on her sari as well. She greeted them with a smile and took them inside.
“I am Sajja Solanki, the housekeeper. Welcome to Sisodiya Mansion, ladies. Please take a seat here. Mr and Mrs Sisodiya will be here in a few minutes.” She guided them to a huge sitting area with three sofas on three sides and the other side covered with a huge bookshelf and a few accent chairs before the fireplace. Ajabdeh sat down on the brown leather sofa carefully avoiding the soft beige cushion and Rukaiya followed.
As soon as the housekeeper left them with two cups of brewed coffee and cookies on a plate, Rukaiya sighed.
“We are clearly underdressed.” She confessed. Ajabdeh shook her head.
“Have you ever seen such grandeur?” She raised her eyebrows amazed again. “Is this a hotel or a house?” Ajabdeh smiled at her. She had seen such grandeur. Back home in Bijoliya, when her father was alive and her grandparents made sure they spent the summers in their ancestral house. But it was all in a distant dream now that little Ajabdeh enjoyed the attention and pampering like a princess. After they passed away, her uncle made sure they weren’t welcome. As she last heard he was planning on selling the estate as well.
Footsteps prompted them to stand up as Jaivanta arrived in a beautiful handwoven sari neatly draped and pinned with a brooch, wearing a pearl necklace and earrings matching a pair of pearl bracelets. She folded her hands as the ladies did the same.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I am Mrs Singh. Please sit down.” She sat down on the sofa opposite them.
“I am Ajabdeh Punwar and this is my partner Rukaiya.” Ajabdeh introduced her with a professional smile. Jaivanta stared right at her. Her hair was made up in a simple bun fixed with a hairpin, and she wore a simple Kurti in pink, over her pair of jeans. The shoes seemed new. Rukaiya wore a white Lucknowi Chikan salwar with little pearls fixed on the edge of her dupatta.
“So where are you from?” Jaivanta’s question took Ajabdeh by surprise as Rukaiya too looked a little awkward.
“I’m sorry. If that’s too unprofessional.” Jaivanta smiled. “I am not a very good professional talker if you expected that, so I thought we could have a little chit-chat before my husband arrives and then we can talk business.”
“I am from Delhi.” Rukaiya smiled. “I worked under a wedding planner there before she offered me a partnership.” She finished looking at Ajabdeh. Ajabdeh was scrutinising the lady in front of her. In her years of experience in the business, this is what she had learnt well. To read the body language of the clients, and understand their levels of expectation and capabilities to spend. Something told her, that this was no small talk, but Jaivanta has already done their background checks and hence was testing their honesty.
“And you are from Udaipur?” Jaivanta asked. Ajabdeh smiled. She was right. Jaivanta had asked around.
“Bijoliya actually.” She said with a slight nod. “We moved to Udaipur when I was very young.”
“You are from Bijoliya?” Jaivanta enquired, a little surprised. “Punwar... Punwar...” She seemed to recollect something.
“Well, my grandparents were the Punwars of Bijoliya. We moved away because of my Father’s work and after my father’s untimely...” She stopped.
“Oh am sorry. I think we knew the Punwars. In fact, their eldest son was married to my classmate.” Jaivanta recollected. “Hansa...”
“She is my mother.” Ajabdeh looked surprised. “Unfortunately she has had very vague memories since her illness and most of the time she is in the hospital. Otherwise, I am sure she would have remembered you.”
“So you are an only child?” Jaivanta asked.
“No, I have a younger sister. She is still in college.” Ajabdeh smiled.
Footsteps interrupted their conversation as Udai Singh walked in and shook their hands. Ajabdeh felt the familiar professional vibe in him that she was missing with all the personal conversation.
“She is Hansa’s daughter.” Jaivanta smiled at her husband who frowned cluelessly.” The Punwars of Bijoliya?” She reminded as he nodded indifferently.
Rukaiya presented them with the idea of themes and non-themed parties for their anniversary as they sat down to scrutinize the pictures. Ajabdeh took out her noting app and asked if they could tell the number of expected guests.
“My son is in charge of that.” Jaivanta smiled “umm... Sajja?”
“She is Hansa’s daughter.” Jaivanta smiled at her husband who frowned cluelessly.” The Punwars of Bijoliya?” She reminded as he nodded indifferently.
Rukaiya presented them with the idea of themes and non-themed parties for their anniversary as they sat down to scrutinize the pictures. Ajabdeh took out her noting app and asked if they could tell the number of expected guests.
“My son is in charge of that.” Jaivanta smiled “umm... Sajja?”
The housekeeper arrived almost immediately as though she was eavesdropping on the conversation.
“Do call Pratap and hand me the phone please?” At her words, both the ladies exchanged an amused glance. The housekeeper dialled a number on the phone that was kept about an arm’s distance away from Mrs Singh and handed her the receiver.
Ajabdeh could read Rukaiya’s thoughts. The time that was wasted calling on the lady and instructing her was more than it would take for the lady to walk up to the phone and dial the number herself. She never understood rich people!
“Hello, Pra... I know, how long till you get home?” She asked looking at the grandfather clock in the corner. “Ms Punwar is here and she is asking about the guest list.”
Ajabdeh frowned at how she ignored Rukaiya’s mention. Or perhaps it was because she asked the question.
“Very well.” She handed the receiver back to the housekeeper who kept it and walked away. “He will call on you as soon as the guest list is ready.”
“Fair enough.” Ajabdeh stood up followed by Rukaiya. “You can keep the pictures. I will send someone by to take them later when you have finalised everything. I assume you need time for that.”
“Married people never agree on anything.” Udai Singh had a hint of amusement in his voice as Jaivanta looked at him with a disapproving glance. “We will let you know.” He got up to shake hands “Thank you for coming over. My car will drop you back at your office.”
“Thank you, sir.” The ladies spoke in unison and turned to leave.
The phone rang prompting Udai Singh to take it with a swift “Sisodiya Residence” and he turned to Ajabdeh “It’s for you.”
She looked a little taken aback as she took the receiver from the man and said an unsure “Hello?”
“Miss Punwar I am calling from Mr Singh’s office.” A lady spoke, making her narrow her brows slightly “Yes?”
“Can we please have your office address and visiting hours? Mr Singh would like to talk about the guest list with you in person sometime in a week?”
“My office?” She raised her eyebrows a little surprised. “Well, we can come over if...”
“Sorry Ma’am he instructed me to take the address and fix an appointment with you at your office.”
“Umm okay... I will tell someone to email you the details?” She said in the most professional voice she could find. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
She kept the receiver down and stared at the couple glancing at her.
“We will take your leave then. Have a good day.” She smiled as Jaivanta watched her go.
“She is good.” Jaivanta smiled at her husband. “Just a little grooming and she can...” “Well, the portfolios are nice.” Udai agreed. Jaivanta frowned at him. “I am talking of Ajabdeh, not the event or her capabilities...”
“I don’t think she can fit in.” He said firmly, shaking his head.
“What? Why not? You barely know her.” Jaivanta defended.
“Exactly.” There was a hint of amusement in Udai’s tone. “You barely know her. It is not enough to decide. Especially not for Pratap.” He walked away briskly as Sajja walked in with tea.
“So how was she Sajja?” Jaivanta flashed a smile.
“Very simple and elegant I felt Madam.” Sajja smiled. “Do you think he will like her?” Jaivanta frowned at her words.
“When we were young our parents chose for us. Look, we are happy. So if we choose for him...”
“But Madam, the children nowadays...”
“I let him choose once and look at what happened,” Jaivanta spoke in a rather disapproving tone. “Embarrassed the whole family. Everyone was talking of it even at Manwati’s wedding. I know you have cared for my children more than me at times and I value your opinion but... I will not let him be hurt again.”
Sajja nodded and let out a silent sigh and walked away from Jaivanta who sipped on her tea.
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